Cast your mind back to 2020, when Sony surprised us with an electric car concept, the Vision-S. After an SUV variant appeared and a couple of quiet years passed, Sony announced a partnership with Honda, called Sony Honda Mobility, which would build cars (ostensibly electric ones) in the United States. At CES 2023, Sony showed a prototype and announced a new brand name for the whole enterprise: Afeela.
Yes, we’re a little disappointed by the moniker. We hoped it might be called TriniTransportation, perhaps with an inaugural model called the PlayStationWagon. (Had Sony partnered with Nissan, the car could have been called the BetaMaxima or the PlayFinder.) Still, although we’re not Afeela’n the brand name, we’re excited about the unnamed car—and not just because we have a production timeline (preorders in 2025, first North American deliveries in spring 2026). Given the powerhouse of partners, this could be the first car from the tech industry that actually, y’know, works.
This story is from the May 2023 edition of Motor Trend.
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This story is from the May 2023 edition of Motor Trend.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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MOTORTREND SUV OF THE YEAR 2024 - CERTIFIED FRESH
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WE DID IT AGAIN: RUNNING OUR VW ID4 EV OUT OF ELECTRICITY, JUST TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS
THEY LISTENED
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2023 Lexus RZ
Lexus says it will make only battery-powered vehicles by 2035, and the new RZ 450e is the brand’s first dedicated EV. This midsize crossover indicates Lexus’ future lineup will have luxurious appeal, but we find this first effort lacking in crucial areas.
2024 Land Rover Defender
The Defender 130 is a tricky one to judge. On one hand, it potentially improves upon a design and package we previously lauded enough to crown as our 2021 SUV of the Year in the form of the standard Defender 110. The 130 is more than a foot longer than the 110 and has more room for people and stuff, stretching the existing design into a new body style. (The 130’s wheelbase remains unchanged.)
2024 Kia Seltos
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2023 Jeep Compass
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2024 Hyundai Kona
The Kona enters its second generation for 2024 with a new design language. It’s larger than the outgoing Kona, too, and its uncommonly ornate (for this class) and unmistakable design is something we’re already seeing in other upcoming Hyundai products. Having really liked the previous Kona, would our judges warm to this one?
2023 Ford Escape
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